Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-12
A TALK WITH POwDERLY.
What He Says Of the Radicals-Re.
forms that He AdvOcates-yyillin t0
Resign when the knights Select His

The New York Herald to-day prints an inter-
view with General Master Workman Powderly at
Scranton, Pa. Asked about his reported intention
to resign at the coming convention Mr.. Powderly
replied:
''There seems to be a mistake current as to the
time the terms Of the general officers OF the
Knights of Labor expire. We officers who were
elected at the Richmond session last year were
chosen to serve for two years, and as conse-
Quence our successors will not be elected for one
year hence. The origin OF the rumor that in
tended to resign this year started from state
ment made by me last May. l stated that was
serving my last term as general master workman
while addressing an audience in Boston. A few
weeks later I made the same statement, and
added that while was elected for Two years,
end at the coming general assembly, which con-
venes at Minneapolis the first week OF october
next.
He said he had been greatly misrepresented and
that greater part OF this representation had
been made purpOsely. He was, however, ready TO
turn over his oce to his successor the moment the
general assembly wants to place another in the
position. He spoke or the great amount OF work
ne had performed, saying that since his last cleo
on up to Saturday he had received L. 81 letters,
or Which he had answered 10,913
"Your policy Is criticised by some persons as be-
ing too conservative" said the correspondent.
'It Is not that am conservative, am more
radical than the radicals, for the reason that
have persistently pushed the work along on the
lines Indicated in our declaration. Many OF our
Ne
They pass resolutions; either do what they have
resolved or make an attempt to do 50. Right
here 1t would be well to say that radical men dis
cusS reasons OF REFORM and Will add that they
10 great deal OF good. remember reading a
set or resolutions passed by radical club not
long since in which there were some good things
that Congress should attend to. But these men
never approached single Congressman, while l
wrote to every member OF Congress and set the
with my being conservative, but had they acted
On my advice, or had they not hampered me with
the details that have been crowded upon me, Con-
greSS would be obliged TO take notice OF the Sug-
geStlon made at the Hamilton session regarding
the establishment OF governmental telegraph
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
When asked what reform he would advocate at
the coming general assembly, Mr.. Powderly said:
u am going to our general assembly to demand
at the hands OF Congress the passage of law Great
ing department or labor at the seat OF our Ma
ttonal Government, and that the head OF that de-
partment be Cabinet officer. We have not had
War for twenty years, yet we have Secretary OF
War. We have labor all the time. The country IS
prosperity rests upon labor, and 1t is certainly
Government than that which destroys capital and
labor-War. we have no navy, and yeC We have
Secretary OF the Navy. regard it as most i'm
pOrtant that labor should be recognized and repre-
sented in the Cabinet. shall also review my pre-
vious suggestion relative to the importance OF a
governmental telegraph. l think 1t is high time
the interest OF the public to resist the constant
encroachments OF one man power and monopoly" !"
THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
He said he was not candidate for the head of
the department OF labor II one should be formed,
or for the Presidency, and that he would not &C
cept nomination for any office, high or low while
holding the position OF general master workman.
Interference to the conflicting rumors-one that he
would stump for Blaine, and the other that he
would speak in Cleveland's behalf-he said: Il
have expressed no opinion whatever on that sub
jecL 1t Is TOO far ahead to say whether l shall
take any part in the next national campaign or
not"
"What is the present strength OF the Knights of
Labor and what is the outlook for the usefulness
OF the organizations" was asked.
"DeSpite the reports to the contrary, the Organi-
Za1ion Is stronger now than ever numerically and
Intellectually. Its active membership is about
SOC, 900 in good standing. Many members have
fallen away during this year, but the same can be
said OF every other year since 1t was first organ
lied When the general assembly first mel, in
1873 we had less than 10000 members in good
standing, but 1t was clearly shown at the cOnven-
tion that more than 600 had been initiated. SO
the falling on has not been great In late years
as 1t was In the beginning"